Typewriter ribbon cartridge

ABSTRACT

A cartridge for housing a supply of ribbon for typewriters or like machines. The cartridge includes an arm extending therefrom to guide the ribbon from the cartridge to the typewriter print point and to reverse the direction of the ribbon for guiding the ribbon back to the cartridge which is supported on a machine rigid frame on one side of the print point. The arm being capable of carrying the ribbon from a point adjacent the print point to the print point as a ribbon vibrator.

United States Patent Anderson et a1.

[ 51 Feb.22,1972

[54] TYPEWRITER RIBBON CARTRIDGE [72] Inventors: Carl P. Anderson,Homer; Thomas E.

Hanson, Syracuse, both of N.Y.

[73] Assignee: SCM Corporation, New York, N .Y.

[22] Filed: July 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No; 64,058

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 710,185,Mar. 4, 1968, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl ..197/151,197/159,197/168, 197/170, 242/198 [51] Int. Cl...B41j 33/14, B4lj 35/10, B41j 35/04 [58] Field of Search..197/151,172,175, 168,153, 197/153.5, 170, 162, l59;242/198, 199,55.13,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 785,709 3/1905 Burridge..197/198 2,869,705 1/1959 Gates .i197/151 2,883,029 4/1959 Gray........l97/162 3,065,837 11/1962 Dilvco ....197/151 3,151,724 10/1964 Rossetal ,i..197/151 3,195,828 7/1965 Kuckhoff et al... 197/175 UX 3,349,88710/1967 Goff 1 r ..197/151 3,349,888 10/1967 Page ...197/151 X 3,395,8718/1968 Ackermann et a1. v.242/198 Primary Examiner-Robert E. PulfreyAssistant Examiner-Stephen C. Pellegrino AttorneyHarvey Zeller [5 7]ABSTRACT A cartridge for housing a supply of ribbon for typewriters orlike machines. The cartridge includes an arm extending therefrom toguide the ribbon from the cartridge to the typewriter print point and toreverse the direction of the ribbon for guiding the ribbon back to thecartridge which is supported on a machine rigid frame on one side of theprint point. The arm being capable of carrying the ribbon from a pointadjacent the print point to the print point as a ribbon vibrator.

22 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PAfiNTinrtazz I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR.THOMAS E. mmsow BY CARL F. ANDERSON AGENT PAIENTEBFEB 22 1972 SHEET 2 OF2 5 INVENTOR. THOMAS E. HANSON CARL P. ANDERSON TYPEWRITER RIBBONCARTRIDGE This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 710,185, filedMar. 4, 1968, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to ribbon cartridges,and more particularly to a cartridge for housing the ribbon in atypewriter or like printing machine.

Most ribbon spool cartridges for typewriter or like printing machinesare of the two-spool type wherein separate housings are provided for thespools but are joined in a side-by-side relationship either integrallyor by a separate member. The integral joint or the separate joiningmember is usually provided with a weakened section for separating thespool housing so they may be placed in their respective machine supportsafter the ribbon is inserted in the machine vibrator.

Although the type of ribbon cartridge does provide a somewhat expedientmethod of typewriter ribbon installation, it is still time consuming andbothersome to the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is comprised of acartridge having two main portions, the first portion comprises asubstantially enclosed housing which supports a supply of ribbon eitheran endless-loop type or a coaxially mounted double-spool type. The othercartridge portion comprises an arm having means for first directing theribbon from the housing to the print point and secondly for changing thedirection of the ribbon to guide the ribbon back to the housing.

Therefore, the present ribbon cartridge, by providing a single unit forhousing a supply of ribbon and directing the ribbon to and from a printpoint, need only be positioned within a suitable support in the machineto effect a ribbon installation thereby eliminating the aforementionedtime consuming and bothersome steps needed for the separable'typecartridge installation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the presentribbon cartridge illustrating its position when in the typewriter;

FIG. 2 is a right front perspective view of the cartridge having the topexploded therefrom illustrating its use with an endless-type ribbon;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating use of the cartridgewith a double coaxially mounted spool for a conventional ribbon;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view on a reduced scale of the cartridgeshowing a second embodiment of the cartridge arm;

FIG. Sis a top plan view of FIG. 4 to a reduced scale;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a third embodiment of thecartridge arm;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view to an enlarged scale of the free endof the arm which is common to each arm embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a partial front elevational view taken along line 9- 9 of FIG.3 showing a double-spool construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, theribbon cartridge is preferably of a molded plastic construction and ismainly comprised ofa housing portion 10 and an integral arm portion 12.A ribbon cartridge support 14 is mounted on a right side frame 15. Thesupport 14 is the subject of US. Pat. application Ser. No. 710,064,filed on the same date as this application by Carl F. Anderson andassigned to the assignee of the present application. The housing 10 isinserted between an upper flange 118 shown in phantom and a lowerflange. A suitable locking finger 16 engages the cartridge housingportion 10 to hold the cartridge in an installed position. A lever 17 isoperable to release the locking finger 16 for removing the cartridgefrom the machine. A spring 19 is suitably connected to anchor 126 on thesupport flange 118 and post 122 in elongated slots 116 in upper supportflange I18 and the lower flange (not shown) for biasing the cartridge inthe cartridge removable direction to assist in removing the cartridgefrom the machine. The cartridge, when in the installed position, islocated just in front of the platen l8 and substantially within theconfines of a conventional typewriter configuration. The arm 12 extendsfrom the housing 110 to the left to a terminal end 20 just beyond theprint point 22 defined by a type guide 23. The terminal end 20 guidesthe ribbon sufficiently stable to act as a ribbon vibrator. A vibratormust necessarily confine the ribbon to retain the ribbon during normalrapid, oscillating movements. Thus the cartridge guides the ribbon byway of the arm 12 to the print point 22 and eliminates the need ofthreading the ribbon into a vibrator and thereafter placing separatespools into the machine ribbon spool support cups as encountered withthe more conventional cartridge systems.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the housing 10 is comprised of a top cover 24,a bottom cover 26, and a perimetric wall 28. An endless ribbon hub 30which is shaped as a partial cone having its smaller diameter adjacentthe bottom cover 26, is rigidly mounted to the bottom cover 26 by ascrew 32 for supporting an endless ribbon 34 at its inner convolution. Aroller 36 is pivotally mounted on a post 38 which in turn is rigidlymounted at its ends to the top and bottom covers 24 and 26 respectively.The roller 36 is in close proximity to an opening 39 in the perimetricwall 28.

A semicircular finger 40 is molded to the under side of the top cover 24for the purpose of guiding the ribbon portion 42 out from its innerconvolution when it is pulled from the periphery of hub 30. An opening44 is provided within the rear portion of the parimetric wall 28 nearthe point at which the arm 12 joins the housing 10. The arm 12 has anopening 45 slightly inward from the terminal end 20 and in verticalalignment with the print point 22 (see FIG. I) when the cartridge ispositioned in the machine. The arm 21 also has a V-shaped aperture 46 toprovide a guide 47 having two substantially 45 surfaces 49a and 49b andhas an opening 51 at the extreme end thereof leading into aperture 46.

The ribbon loop, which extends from its inner convolution over thefinger 40, lies against a portion of the periphery of roller 36 andegresses from within the housing 10 through the upper portion of theperimetric wall opening 44. Thereafter it extends along the upper rearsurface of arm 12 and behind the arm opening 45, forward and around theupper surface 49a, downward and rearward around the lower surface 491;,back to the housing 10, along the lower portion of arm 12, through thelower portion of opening 44 and on to the outer convolution of theribbon supply 34. The ribbon 34 can be incrementally advanced along thispath by an appropriately driven feed roller 50 sandwiching the ribbon 34against roller 36.

The opening 45 in the arm 12 provides access to the ribbon 34 for aconventional typebar as it enters the type guide 23 (FIG. 1) in responseto a normal machine-operated typing action.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a second housing embodiment is shown toaccommodate a double ribbon spool system for supporting a conventionalribbon 58. The housing 60 is substantially the same in construction asthe housing for the endless ribbon system as it has top and bottomcovers 62 and 64 respectively and a perimetric wall 66 with a ribbonegress-ingress opening 68. The supply spool 70 and the takeup spool 72are coaxially and pivotally mounted on a hub 74 which is rigidly mountedbetween the top and bottom covers 62 and 64 respectively. The lower ortakeup spool 72 is provided with teeth 76 on the periphery of its lowerflange for mating with a suitable drive gear (not shown) when thecartridge is inserted into the machine cartridge support.

The upper and lower spools 70 and 72 respectively are pivotal withrespect to each other and ribbon 58 is guided from the housing 60 to theprint point 78 near the terminal end of the arm 80 in the same manner asin the endless ribbon system cartridge embodiment.

It will be evident that the drive gear (not shown), which mayincrementally rotate clockwise in response to typing actions, willeffect a like counterclockwise rotation of the takeup spool 72 and theribbon 58 will in turn be incrementally fed from right to left behindthe arm opening 78 and past the print point 22 of the typewriter.

FIGS. 4 and illustrate an alternate embodiment of the cartridge armwhich may be employed with either the endless loop or double-spoolribbon system. The arm 82 is con structed the same at its terminal end84 and extends from the housing 86 the same distance as the previouslydescribed arm 12. However, the arm 82, instead of being moldedintegrally to the housing 86, extends behind the housing rear wall 88and is pivotally mounted to this wall 88 by a shoulder screw 90. The arm82 is guided for oscillating movement about the screw 90 with respect tothe housing wall 88 by a pin 92 which is rigidly mounted to the housingwall 88 and extends through an arcuate arm slot 94. It will be evidentthat, when the cartridge is positioned within the machine, the arm 82may be oscillated in response to typing actions by any suitablemechanism as would be common in oscillating a conventional machineribbon vibrator.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate still another arm embodiment wherein the arm 96is integrally molded with the housing rear wall 98 by way of a pair offingers 100. The fingers 100 are each provided with substantially neckeddown portions 102 near their joining point 104. The cartridge is moldedfrom a material such as polypropylene for providing each finger 1010with a commonly known living hinge at the necked down portion 102. Theliving hinge feature of each finger 100 provides the arm 96 with theability of being oscillated at its terminal end by the same conventionaltypewriter mechanism as would be used in accordance with the pivotal armshown in FIG. 4. The arm 96 (FIGS. 6 and 7) is guided for oscillation bya plate 106 which is spaced slightly away from the housing rear wall 98,by a pin 108 which is rigidly mounted to the plate 106 and the rearhousing wall 98. The pin 108 also provides the limit for the oscillationmovements.

it can be seen from the aforementioned detailed description in referenceto the accompanying drawings that the present invention provides atypewriter ribbon cartridge which clearly overcomes the disadvantages ofthe more commonly known separable-type ribbon cartridges. Morespecifically, the present invention provides a ribbon cartridge which,to effect a ribbon installation within the machine, eliminates the needof having to thread the ribbon into the machine vibrator. This isaccomplished by providing a cartridge with an arm for guiding the ribbonto a print point and back to the housing when the cartridge ispositioned in the machine.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A ribbon cartridge adapted to be removably mounted on a typewriter,the typewriter having a ribbon cartridge support mounted on a rigidframe thereof and a print point, the ribbon cartridge comprising:

a. a housing;

b. means within the housing for supporting a ribbon;

c. an arm carried by the housing for guiding the ribbon from the housingon one side of the print point to expose the ribbon at a predeterminedpoint adjacent the print point and thereafter guide the ribbon back tothe housing on the same side of the print point when the cartridge ispositioned in the support; and

d. means connecting the arm to the housing for movement relative theretofrom the predetermined point to the print point for exposing the ribbonat the print point and wherein the connecting means includes a flexiblerelatively thin wall section integrally connecting the arm to thehousing for rendering the arm moveable relative to the housing.

2. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 1 further comprising abutmentmeans supported on said housing for limiting the travel of said arm whenmoved to said print point.

3. A ribbon cartridge adapted to be removably mounted on a typewriter,the typewriter having a ribbon cartridge support adapted to laterallyreceive a ribbon cartridge, the ribbon cartridge comprising:

a. a housing b. means within the housing for supporting a ribbon;

c. arm means laterally extending from said housing enabling saidcartridge to be laterally inserted into said cartridge support forguiding the ribbon from the housing on one side of the print point tothe print point and thereafter guiding the ribbon back to the housing onthe same side of the print point when the cartridge is positioned on thesupport; and

d. said arm means having means thereon for exposing a portion ofsaidribbon in alignment with the print point.

4. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein said arm meanslaterally extending from said housing comprises an arm movable with saidribbon during operation of said typewriter from a first position removedfrom said print point to a second position wherein a portion of saidribbon is in alignment with said print point and back to said firstposition.

5. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 4 further including meansconnecting said arm to said housing for movement of said arm relative tothe housing.

6. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 5 wherein said connectingmeans includes an element for pivotally supporting said arm.

7. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 4 further including means formaintaining said arm at a lateral orientation with respect to saidhousing during the insertion of said cartridge into said cartridgesupport.

8. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 4 wherein said means exposinga portion of said ribbon is an opening in said arm for exposing aportion of the ribbon an alignment with the print point in said secondposition.

9. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein the ribbonsupporting means includes a hub for supporting an endless coil ofribbonat the coil inner convolution.

10. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein the ribbonsupporting means includes a hub adapted for pivotally supporting aribbon supply spool and a ribbon takeup spool coaxially thereon.

11. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein said arm meanslaterally extending from said housing includes a V- shaped portion foreffecting a direction reversal of the guide ribbon.

12. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 4 further comprising abutmentmeans supported on said housing for limiting the movement of said armwhen moved to said print point.

13. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein said housingincludes an upper and a lower wall and a wall extending at leastpartially around the periphery thereof; and said arm means laterallyextending from said housing extends from the rear portion of said wallextending around the periphery of said housing.

14. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 13 wherein said wallextending around the periphery of said housing has an aperture therein;and means mounted within said housing and adjacent to said aperture forcooperation with a drive means mounted on said typewriter external tosaid housing for feeding said ribbon from said housing to said printpoint and for returning said ribbon to said housing.

15. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 14 wherein said means mountedwithin said housing for feeding said ribbon is a friction roller.

16. A cartridge as defined in claim 13 wherein said arm means laterallyextending from said housing consists of an arm; means pivotallyconnecting said arm to said rear portion of said wall extending aroundthe periphery of said housing; and means for guiding said arm forpivotal movement in the plane in which said ribbon extends from saidhousing to said print point and back to said housing.

17. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 16 wherein said means forguiding said arm comprises a pin on said rear portion of said wallextending around the periphery of said housing and an arcuate slot insaid arm.

18. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein said housingincludes an upper and a lower wall and a wall extending at leastpartially around the periphery thereof: and means pivotally connectingsaid arm means laterally extending from said housing to the rear portionof said wall extending around the periphery of said housing.

19. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 18 wherein said wallextending around the periphery of said housing has an aperture therein;and means mounted within said housing and adjacent to said aperture forcooperation with a drive means external to said housing for feeding saidribbon from said housing to said print point and for returning saidribbon to said housing.

207 A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 19 wherein said means mountedwithin said housing for feeding said ribbon is a friction roller.

21. A ribbon cartridge adapted to be removably mounted on a typewriterthe typewriter having a ribbon cartridge support adapted to laterallyreceive a ribbon cartridge, the ribbon cartridge comprising:

a. a housing b. means within the housing for supporting a ribbon;

0. arm means rigid with said housing and laterally extending therefromenabling said cartridge to be laterally inserted into said cartridgesupport for guiding the ribbon from the housing on one side of the printpoint to the print point and thereafter guiding the ribbon back to thehousing on the same side of the print point when the cartridge ispositioned on the support; and

d. said arm means having means thereon for exposing a portion of saidribbon in alignment with the print point.

22. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 2] wherein said arm meanslaterally extending from said housing comprises an arm which moves withsaid ribbon during operation of said typewriter from a first positionremoved from said print point to a second position wherein a portion ofsaid ribbon is in alignment with said print point and back to said firstposition.

1. A ribbon cartridge adapted to be removably mounted on a typewriter,the typewriter having a ribbon cartridge support mounted on a rigidframe thereof and a print point, the ribbon cartridge comprising: a. ahousing; b. means within the housing for supporting a ribbon; c. an armcarried by the housing for guiding the ribbon from the housing on oneside of the print point to expose the ribbon at a predetermined pointadjacent the print point and thereafter guide the ribbon back to thehousing on the same side of the print point when the cartridge ispositioned in the support; and d. means connecting the arm to thehousing for movement relative thereto from the predetermined point tothe print point for exposing the ribbon at the print point and whereinthe connecting means includes a flexible relatively thin wall sectionintegrally connecting the arm to the housing for rendering the armmoveable relative to the housing.
 2. A ribbon cartridge as defined inclaim 1 further comprising abutment means supported on said housing forlimiting the travel of said arm when moved to said print point.
 3. Aribbon cartridge adapted to be removably mounted on a typewriter, thetypewriter having a ribbon cartridge support adapted to laterallyreceive a ribbon cartridge, the ribbon cartridge comprising: a. ahousing b. means within the housing for supporting a ribbon; c. armmeans laterally extending from said housing enabling said cartridge tobe laterally inserted into said cartridge support for guiding the ribbonfrom the housing on one side of the print point to the print point andthereafter guiding the ribbon back to the housing on the same side ofthe print point when the cartridge is positioned on the support; and d.said arm means having means thereon for exposing a portion of saidribbon in alignment with the print point.
 4. A ribbon cartridge asdefined in claim 3 wherein said arm means laterally extending from saidhousing comprises an arm movable with said ribbon during operation ofsaid typewriter from a first position removed from said print point to asecond position wherein a portion of said ribbon is in alignment withsaid print point and back to said first position.
 5. A ribbon cartridgeas defined in claim 4 further including means connecting said arm tosaid housing for movement of said arm relative to the housing.
 6. Aribbon cartridge as defined in claim 5 wherein said connecting meansincludes an element for pivotally supporting said arm.
 7. A ribboncartridge as defined in claim 4 further including means for maintainingsaid arm at a lateral orientation with respect to said housing duringthe insertion of said cartridge into said cartridge support.
 8. A ribboncartridge as defined in claim 4 wherein said means exposing a portion ofsaid ribbon is an opening in said arm for exposing a portion of theribbon an alignment with the print point in said second position.
 9. Aribbon cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein the ribbon supportingmeans includes a hub for supporting an endless coil of ribbon at thecoil inner convolution.
 10. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 3wherein the ribbon supporting means includes a hub adapted for pivotallysupporting a ribbon supply spOol and a ribbon takeup spool coaxiallythereon.
 11. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein said armmeans laterally extending from said housing includes a V-shaped portionfor effecting a direction reversal of the guide ribbon.
 12. A ribboncartridge as defined in claim 4 further comprising abutment meanssupported on said housing for limiting the movement of said arm whenmoved to said print point.
 13. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 3wherein said housing includes an upper and a lower wall and a wallextending at least partially around the periphery thereof; and said armmeans laterally extending from said housing extends from the rearportion of said wall extending around the periphery of said housing. 14.A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 13 wherein said wall extendingaround the periphery of said housing has an aperture therein; and meansmounted within said housing and adjacent to said aperture forcooperation with a drive means mounted on said typewriter external tosaid housing for feeding said ribbon from said housing to said printpoint and for returning said ribbon to said housing.
 15. A ribboncartridge as defined in claim 14 wherein said means mounted within saidhousing for feeding said ribbon is a friction roller.
 16. A cartridge asdefined in claim 13 wherein said arm means laterally extending from saidhousing consists of an arm; means pivotally connecting said arm to saidrear portion of said wall extending around the periphery of saidhousing; and means for guiding said arm for pivotal movement in theplane in which said ribbon extends from said housing to said print pointand back to said housing.
 17. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 16wherein said means for guiding said arm comprises a pin on said rearportion of said wall extending around the periphery of said housing andan arcuate slot in said arm.
 18. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim3 wherein said housing includes an upper and a lower wall and a wallextending at least partially around the periphery thereof: and meanspivotally connecting said arm means laterally extending from saidhousing to the rear portion of said wall extending around the peripheryof said housing.
 19. A ribbon cartridge as defined in claim 18 whereinsaid wall extending around the periphery of said housing has an aperturetherein; and means mounted within said housing and adjacent to saidaperture for cooperation with a drive means external to said housing forfeeding said ribbon from said housing to said print point and forreturning said ribbon to said housing.
 20. A ribbon cartridge as definedin claim 19 wherein said means mounted within said housing for feedingsaid ribbon is a friction roller.
 21. A ribbon cartridge adapted to beremovably mounted on a typewriter the typewriter having a ribboncartridge support adapted to laterally receive a ribbon cartridge, theribbon cartridge comprising: a. a housing b. means within the housingfor supporting a ribbon; c. arm means rigid with said housing andlaterally extending therefrom enabling said cartridge to be laterallyinserted into said cartridge support for guiding the ribbon from thehousing on one side of the print point to the print point and thereafterguiding the ribbon back to the housing on the same side of the printpoint when the cartridge is positioned on the support; and d. said armmeans having means thereon for exposing a portion of said ribbon inalignment with the print point.
 22. A ribbon cartridge as defined inclaim 21 wherein said arm means laterally extending from said housingcomprises an arm which moves with said ribbon during operation of saidtypewriter from a first position removed from said print point to asecond position wherein a portion of said ribbon is in alignment withsaid print point and back to said first position.